National unity beat the enemy   The People's Liberation Army was greeted by thousands of jubilant Sai Gon (HCM City) residents after their final victory over the US army in the Spring of 1975. - VNA/VNS Photo HCM CITY  (VNS) - The people's unity under the leadership of the Viet Nam Communist Party was a key component in the war against the US four decades ago, participants attending a State seminar held yesterday in HCM City said. The seminar titled Great Victory in Spring 1975 – the Power of Will for the Country's Reunification and Aspiration for Peace was organised by the Ministry of National Defense, the Central Party Committee's Commission for Publicity and Education, and HCM City's Party Committee in HCM City to mark the 40th anniversary of the victory of the country's reunification. Besides the presence of leaders and former leaders, a letter from President Truong Tan Sang was read during the event, which was held to educate officials, soldiers and people about the previous generations' revolutionary tradition, which paved the way to the country's industrialisation and modernisation. Nguyen Thanh Cung, deputy minister of National Defense, who delivered the opening speech, said the victory after 21 years of fighting the Americans in the harshest military conflict after the Second World War was the result of the leadership of the Communist Party, combined with the power of the people who aspired for peace as well as the country's reunification. Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty, deputy minister of National Defence, said the victory helped to liberate the people from war between 1945 and 1975 under leadership of the Party and the international community. Le Thanh Hai, Politburo member and Secretary of HCM City's Party Committee, said the people of Sai Gon – Gia Dinh, the Southern region and the entire country 40 years ago sought reunification. The power of the people converged with the Ho Chi Minh Operation, which helped to liberate Viet Nam's Southern region on April 30, 1975. "The victory was recorded in the world's history as a great victory of the 20th century. It came from the power of national unity and the strong determination of the Viet Nam Communist Party and the people to free the country," Hai said. Hai said the seminar would help explain how Viet Nam, a small country, defeated two world powers – France and the US – within a 30-year period. Forty years, after the victory, HCM City is the country's biggest economic hub and a site of economic and cultural exchange with other countries. Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the seminar, Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People's Army, said that besides the intelligent leadership of the Party and the army, the Vietnamese people's aspiration for peace was essential for the victory. Through the seminar, participants explained the reasons for the victory and withdrew lessons from the event. The seminar focused on the role of Viet nam Communist Party and President Ho Chi Minh's leadership and guidelines for the victory, the Vietnamese people's will in liberating the southern region and reunifying the country, and the spirit and creativity of the army during the war as well as the supporting role of the citizens. The seminar, which will end today after a field trip, received 101 reports contributed by army generals, scientists and researchers. - VNS